The status however remains controversial, and FishBase still lists C. vandesius as a separate species,[3] reflecting the recent treatment of the European freshwater fish fauna by Kottelat & Freyhof (2007).

"[5][6][7] Coregonus vandesius inhabits deep, cold lakes, and uses planktonic crustaceans, such as copepods, as its primary food source.

The current population trend is unknown and the main threats are thought to be eutrophication and the introduction of alien species.

[1] Coregonus vandesius was introduced to Loch Skeen in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, in the 1990s as an attempt at ex-situ conservation after the severity of habitat deterioration at Bassenthwaite was noticed.

This has proved largely successful and Loch Skeen now has nearly ten times the number of vendace per hectare as Derwent Water according to a survey carried out by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.